Niki Lightning
{{Short description|Bulgarian autogyro}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2022}}
| {{Infobox Aircraft Begin
|name = Lightning |image = Niki_Lightning_gyroplane_at_AERO_Friedrichshafen_2018.jpg |caption = }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type |type = Autogyro |national origin = Bulgaria |manufacturer = Niki Rotor Aviation |designer = |first flight = |introduction = 2009 |retired = |status =In production (assembled, 2017) |primary user = |more users = |produced = 2009-present |number built = |developed from = |variants with their own articles = Niki Kallithea }} |
The Niki Lightning is a fully enclosed two-seater tricycle autogyro of composite construction, designed and built by Niki Rotor Aviation in Bulgaria. It was introduced in 2009{{cite web|url=http://lightningautogyro.com/index.aspx|title=Welcome - Helicopters International, LLC|work=lightningautogyro.com|accessdate=28 February 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://lightningautogyro.com/lightning.aspx|title=Lightning Autogyro - Helicopters International, LLC|work=lightningautogyro.com|accessdate=28 February 2016}}
Design and development
The Lightning's cockpit pod accommodates a pilot and passenger in tandem. The main rotor is two-bladed, with a pre-rotator. Unconventionally the tail boom is mounted though the centre of the propeller shaft.Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 196. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}} The boom may be unbolted and removed to aid access to the engine and prop.{{Citation needed|date=February 2016}}
There is a choice of two very compact D-Motor engines (both liquid-cooled horizontally-opposed side-valve four-strokes): either the {{convert|95|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} 4-cylinder LF26 or the {{convert|130|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} 6-cylinder LF39. The engine is sited behind the cockpit, driving a 3- or 4-bladed ground-adjustable pusher propeller which is coaxial with the tail boom. The D-Motor engines are direct-drive units redlined at 3,000 rpm. The engines are sited beneath the thrust line of the propeller; instead of using a gearbox, the Lightning uses a multi-belt-drive reduction system of about 3:2 ratio, resulting in an efficient propeller speed of up to 2,000 rpm.D-Motor website [https://www.d-motor.eu] This arrangement avoids the necessity of a tailboom beneath the propeller, giving a smoother empenage and reducing drag. Beneath the tail-fin a spring-steel tailskid is fitted, to inhibit propeller strikes.
Consuming some {{convert|15|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}} of avgas per hour, the autogyro has an endurance of 4 hours, with 30 minutes reserve. Its cruise speed of {{convert|81|kn|kph mph|abbr=on}} gives the autogyro a range of over {{convert|320|nmi|km mi|abbr=on}}. It has a take-off roll of {{convert|70|m|abbr=on}}, and a landing roll of {{convert|20|m|abbr=on}}. The Lightning may be flown with its side doors removed.{{cite web|url=http://nikiaviation.com/en/models/lightning/specs|title=Technical Specifications|work=nikiaviation.com|accessdate=1 March 2016|quote="If you prefer more dynamic flight experience you can just remove the composite doors and enjoy the open air cabin."|archive-date=25 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225181504/http://nikiaviation.com/en/models/lightning/specs|url-status=dead}}
An alternative engine for the Niki Lightning is the Rotax 914UL (but the normal Rotax gearbox would be dispensed with in favour of the drive belts). Niki Aviation spec sheet [https://www.nikiaviation.com/en/models/lightning/specs]
Specifications (D-Motor LF39)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=met
|genhide=
|crew=
|capacity=
|length m=4.55
|length ft=
|length in=
|length note=
|height m=2.85
|height ft=
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|height note=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=265
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=560
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|70|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=D-Motor LF39
|eng1 type=6-cyl horizontally opposed, liquid-cooled, piston engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=130
|prop blade number=4
|prop name=
|prop dia m=1.75
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop dia note=
|rot number=1
|rot dia m=8.5
|rot dia ft=
|rot dia in=
|rot area sqm=
|rot area sqft=
|rot area note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=170
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=150
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
- Minimum speed {{convert|35|kph|kn mph|abbr=on}}
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|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
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|range km=
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|endurance=4h with 30 min reserve
|ceiling m=3000
|ceiling ft=
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|climb rate ms=5
|climb rate ftmin=
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See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://nikiaviation.com/en/models/lightning/specs}}